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Checkerboard Bed Cover Crochet Pattern

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80-100 Hours 5 made this

Beginner Friendly

Only chain and double crochet stitches.

80-100 Hours

Make one portable block at a time.

Bold Color Layout

Blue, cream and taupe blocks step across the bed on a diagonal.

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About This Checkerboard Bed Cover Crochet Pattern Pattern

This checkerboard bed cover is made from 56 tall blocks in cobalt blue, cream and warm taupe. Each block is worked in an open stitch with rows of tall vertical slits, which gives the cover a light, airy texture. The three colors repeat on a diagonal, so the whole bed looks like a soft checkerboard.

It measures about 66 by 86 inches and uses only ch, sl st, sc and dc. A flat taupe edging finishes the cover. It suits confident beginners who want a big project that is easy to carry and easy to memorize.

Why You'll Love This Checkerboard Bed Cover Crochet Pattern Pattern

I love that every block is the same simple pattern. After the first two rows you can crochet without looking, which makes it perfect for evenings with a good show.

The colors feel calm and fresh in a bedroom, and the open slits make the cover lighter than a solid blanket. It also makes a wonderful gift for a new home.

Switch Things Up

Try a different palette, such as sage, oatmeal and charcoal, or soft pink, cream and gray. Make 20 blocks in 4 across and 5 down for a cozy throw. Make 6 blocks in 2 across and 3 down for a baby blanket. Or use only two colors and alternate them in a classic checkerboard.

Materials Needed

— Main Fabric

01 Worsted weight cotton yarn, cobalt blue: about 1,450 yd (1,325 m), roughly 660 g, for 19 blocks

02 Worsted weight cotton yarn, cream: about 1,450 yd (1,325 m), roughly 660 g, for 19 blocks

03 Worsted weight cotton yarn, taupe: about 1,700 yd (1,550 m), roughly 770 g, for 18 blocks, the joining seams and the edging

— Tools Required

04 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook

05 Yarn needle

06 Stitch markers

07 Scissors

08 Blocking mats and rust-proof pins

09 Measuring tape

The Free Pattern

Beginner 80-100 Hours

0% complete

— Slit Stitch Block (Make 56: 19 cobalt blue, 19 cream, 18 taupe) :

Every block is worked flat in rows, turning at the end of each row. Each row has 10 pairs of dc with a ch-1 sp between the pairs. Always skip the ch-1 sp of the row below so the slits stack straight up. Keep the foundation chain edge at the bottom of every block. A finished block is about 8 in wide and 12 in tall.

Row 1: Ch 31. Dc in 4th ch from hook (the first 3 ch count as a dc), *ch 1, skip 1 ch, dc in each of next 2 ch; repeat from * 8 more times, turn. (20 dc, 9 ch-1 sps)

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next dc, *ch 1, skip next ch-1 sp, dc in each of next 2 dc; repeat from * 8 more times, working the last dc of the final repeat into the top of the turning ch, turn. (20 dc, 9 ch-1 sps)

Rows 3-24: Repeat Row 2 twenty-two more times, for 24 rows in total. Fasten off and leave a 12 in tail for joining. (20 dc and 9 ch-1 sps in every row)

— Layout :

Arrange the 56 blocks in 7 rows of 8 blocks, all standing upright with the foundation edge at the bottom.

Row 1 from left to right: blue, cream, taupe, blue, cream, taupe, blue, cream. Row 2: cream, taupe, blue, cream, taupe, blue, cream, taupe. Row 3: taupe, blue, cream, taupe, blue, cream, taupe, blue.

Rows 4 to 6 repeat Rows 1 to 3, and Row 7 repeats Row 1. This gives 19 blue, 19 cream and 18 taupe blocks and creates the diagonal checkerboard.

— Border (taupe) :

Round 1: Join taupe at any outer corner. Ch 1, 3 sc in the corner, then sc evenly along the edge: 29 sc per block along each top and bottom edge (1 sc in each dc and each ch-1 sp, or 29 evenly spaced sc into the foundation ch), and 48 sc per block along each side (2 sc per row end). Work 3 sc in each outer corner, join with sl st to first sc. (1148 sc: 232 on each top and bottom edge, 336 on each side, 3 in each of 4 corners)

Round 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc around, working 3 sc in the center sc of each corner, join with sl st to first sc. (1156 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, sl st in each sc around, working 3 sl st in the center sc of each corner, join with sl st to first sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends. (1164 sl sts)

Assembly Instructions

Weave in all ends and wet block each block to about 8 by 12 in, then let them dry flat.
Lay out the 56 blocks in 7 rows of 8 following the Layout section, and check that all the foundation edges face the bottom.
Join the blocks in each row from left to right with a sl st seam in taupe, wrong sides together, working through the back loops only.
Join the 7 rows together the same way, matching the seam crossings so the corners meet neatly.
Press or steam the seams lightly from the wrong side so they lie flat.
Work the taupe Border all the way around the outer edge.
Block the finished bed cover gently and weave in the last ends.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

If the slits do not line up, you probably worked a dc into a ch-1 sp. Skip every ch-1 sp of the row below and put the ch 1 directly above it.

Blocks end up different widths when the foundation chain is too tight. Chain loosely, or use a hook one size larger for the foundation only.

The sides curve in if the turning ch 3 is pulled tight. Keep it loose and count 20 dc at the end of each row.

Mixing up block direction makes the texture look uneven. Keep the foundation edge at the bottom of every block.

Denise

Denise designs cozy blankets and home decor crochet patterns for makers of every level.

Important Notes

Gauge: one row measures about 0.5 in, and 29 sts across (20 dc and 9 ch-1 sps) measure about 8 in. If yours is smaller, go up a hook size.

Yarn amounts are approximate and depend on your tension, so buy an extra ball of each color.

Cotton is heavy, so block the blocks first and lay the finished bed cover flat to dry.

Wash gently in cool water and dry flat to keep the slits neat.

I hope this bed cover makes your bedroom feel calm and fresh. Take it one block at a time. Happy stitching, Denise.

Crochet Abbreviations

01 ch — chain

02 sl st — slip stitch

03 sc — single crochet

04 dc — double crochet

05 sp — space

06 st(s) — stitch(es)

You Ask, We Answer

What is the finished size?

About 66 by 86 inches with 56 blocks in 8 columns and 7 rows, plus the edging. Make fewer blocks for a throw or baby blanket.

Can I use a different yarn weight?

Yes. DK cotton gives smaller blocks, so you will need more blocks to reach the same size. Check your block size before you start the rest.

How do I wash it?

Machine wash gently in cool water or hand wash, reshape, and dry flat. Skip high heat, which can shrink cotton and distort the slits.